2024-10-12 Fall Ango: We Could be Heroes, by Rev. Choro Antonaccio

About Practice Periods:Practice Period (Jp. Ango , or “peaceful dwelling”) offer a rare and ideal opportunity for both beginners and experienced Zen practitioners to support each other in bringing zazen into daily life. Over this eight-week period we will have the chance to renew and focus our practice and study our way-seeking-mind. There are some minimum requirements for participation, but each person creates their own schedule around them. Each of us will be encouraged to find our edge of practice, to extend ourselves for the sake of all beings.When we focus our intention to practice for a specific time, it will be necessary to honor our  existing commitments and to be realistic about how we create our schedule, while attempting to establish zazen and sangha practice as a priority for this time.It is recommended that rather than simply picking and choosing pieces of what is offered based on preference or convenience, instead to think of the ango as one integrated thing and to participate as much as is possible. We will all support each other fully in this endeavor.Dogen says, “When one displays the buddha mudra with one’s whole body and mind, sitting upright in this samadhi even for a short time, everything in the entire dharma world becomes buddha mudra, and all space in the universe completely becomes enlightenment.” This is the truth we will taste and express together.